The local campaign to curb plastic straw use is up and running, and if you are a restaurateur or involved in the local hospitality industry, organizers are seeking your input.

The meeting on Feb. 2, organized by Peter Hiller, drew about 10 committed and enthusiastic volunteers, and they’re embarking on the next phase. One who is involved is Brandon Wiggins, a Carmel Valley conservationist and author, who said the important thing right now is to get the message out and raise awareness.

Many Central Coast restaurants and bars have gotten into the habit of putting plastic straws into drinks before they’re served, creating unnecessary waste that can’t be recycled. True, plastic straws are a small part of the waste stream, but even small changes are meaningful — enough plastic straws are thrown away in the United States each year to fill up Yankee Stadium nine times over.

“I’ve been on this road for quite some time,” said Wiggins, who has been studying the issue and taking action, from telling waiters that she doesn’t need a straw to lobbying Starbucks to cut down on plastic straw use.

What this campaign is about is not a ban, said Wiggins, but simply getting everyone to be mindful of this habit, and to seek sustainable alternatives. Restaurants and bars could, for instance, offer straws on request instead of automatically handing them out or plopping them in drinks. Less waste for the environment, and less expense for the restaurant. A win-win all the way around.

On her blog at www.brandonwigginsauthor.com, Wiggins suggests restaurants and bars put this note on their menus or on a table placard: “In the interest of our environment and our passion to preserve it, this establishment endorses the conservation of our resources. We offer straws (a petroleum-based product that is not recyclable or biodegradable) only upon request.”

In addition, they could offer paper straws rather than plastic. Paper can be composted, and it’s made from a renewable resource.

If you have small children who like straws, or a medical condition that requires a straw, paper is a good choice. “Paper straws are a lot better than they used to be,” said Wiggins.

She said Jackie Nunez, the Santa Cruz resident who has been leading the charge against plastic straws for the past few years, came to the meeting and showed off a collection of even better straw choices, which included models made from reusable glass, metal and bamboo.

If you’re interested in getting involved in the effort to curb plastic straw use, or if you are involved in the local restaurant and hospitality industry and would like to put in your two cents, contact Wiggins at Brandon@brandonwigginsauthor.com or send a message through the “Contact Us” page of the website thelastplasticstraw.org.

• A related item comes from Kimberle Herring of the Monterey Regional Waste Management District, who points out that a coupon good for a free glass straw can be found at Glass Dharma (glassdharma.blogspot.com).

• And if you want to know more about how one person can make a difference in his or her community, attend an event in Santa Cruz hosted by Save Our Shores, featuring the award-winning documentary “Divide in Concord.” The evening at the Allterra Solar warehouse, 207-B McPherson St., begins at 5:30 p.m. with free beer and appetizers and the screening at 6:30 p.m.

The film follows 84-year-old environmentalist Jean Hill on her quest to ban bottled water in Concord, Massachusetts. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with film producer and co-director David Regos, Santa Cruz County treasurer Fred Keeley, “Blue Mind” author Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, Stiv Wilson of The Story of Stuff and Nancy Gerdt of Felton FLOW.

More details are available at saveourshores.org/calendar/divideinconcord/.

Do you have questions or tips about sustainable living around the Central Coast? Send them to Kathryn McKenzie at pardonmygarden@att.net. Follow Living Green on Twitter for tips, twitter.com/livinggreen2.